Quail Hollow Set For Big Changes

Big changes are planned for Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte as it prepares to host the 2017 PGA Championship.

After the 2016 Wells Fargo Championship is finished in May, the course will be closed in order to redesign a significant portion of the front nine as well as change the grass on the putting surfaces.

Club president Johnny Harris confirmed the changes but otherwise declined comment on the specifics.

As part of a master plan created in conjunction with course designer Tom Fazio, the front nine will get three new holes starting at No. 1 which will be converted from a relatively short par-4 into a longer par-4 for professionals (par-5 for members).

The change will eliminate the par-3 second hole to allow for the new first green which will be located near the current second green.

The par-5 fifth hole will also go away and in its place will be a par-3 and a par-4 hole.

The sixth through ninth holes will remain the same.

The par-4 11th hole may also be redesigned, moving the green to add length to the hole. A fairway bunker will also be moved approximately 80 yards farther from the tee to bring it back into play.

The work is scheduled to be done this summer when the putting surfaces are being switched from Mini Verde bermuda to Champion.

With the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in 2017, the Wells Fargo Championship will be played at Eagle Point in Wilmington, N.C., next year before returning to Quail Hollow in 2018 and 2019. The club will also host the 2021 Presidents Cup.